Film-developing machine



J. M. HOFF.

-FILM DEVELOPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-26,1919.

Patented Dec, 21,1920.

J oh M UNITED STATES JOSEPH M. HOFF, OF DORCHESTER, VJISGONSIN.

FILlVI-DEVELOPING IVEAGHINE.

Application filed April 26,

To all whom it may concemt:

Be it known that I, Josnrrr M. Horn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dorchester, in the county of Clark and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Film-Deeloping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in film developing machines and has for its object to provide a device of this character including a novel type of film supporting drum provided with means for fastening the terminals of films of varying lengths whereby a number of films may be simultaneously developed.

Another object is the provision of a machine of this character provided with means for observing the progress of development of the films arranged therein,

Another object is the application to a machine of this character of a novel type of developer containing tray which requires only a comparatively small quantity of developer and is supported in a novel manner upon a vertically movable bed permitting the-tray to be elevated in order to bring the developing solution to proper position with relation to the film supporting drum.

lVith these and other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds the invention comprises the novel features of construction. combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described in the following specification and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the developing machine,

Fig. 2 represents a transverse sectional view therethrough, and

Fig. 3 represents a fragmental horizontal sectional view through one corner of the casing illustrating one of the drum support ing rollers in detail.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 indicates generally a casing or housing forming a support and inclosure for the machine and which includes a dome shaped top 6, epposed side walls 7, end walls 8 and a bottom 9 which are all constructed of imperforate metal so as to insure against the admission Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 292,776.

of light and consequent damage to the lightsensitive material arranged in the housing. One end wall of the casing is provided with a relatively large opening in which is arranged a door 10 hinged at its lower edge at 11 to the end wall 8 and provided at its upper edge with a preferred type of latch 12 whereby the door may be locked in closed position. The inner surface of the door is provided vith an inwardly directed flange 13 substantially conforming to the shape of the opening and to insure against the admission of light to the interior of the hou ing.

The side walls '7 are provided interiorly with downwardly inwardly inclined defiector plates 14 which extend substantially the entire length of the housing and are designed to conduct the developing solution bacl: into the tray as will hereinafter appear. The terminals of the deflectors 14: remote from the door 10 are provided with inwardly and upt 'ardly direct-ed supporting arms 15 carrying friction reducing rollers 16 for engaging and supporting the annular laterally directed flange 17 carried by the end wall 18 of the rotatable film sup porting drum which latter is designated as an entirety by the numeral 19. The end 18 of the drum is in the form of a ring and the opposite end 18 is of imperforate circular formation and provided with an axially projectii'ig and detachable shaft 20 received through an opening formed in the door 10 and carrying a hand crank 21 for convenience in manually rotating the drum during the p actical operation of the developing machine, The end walls 18 and 18 are connected by a series of parallel supporting rods 22 seve 'al of which are provided with an adequate number of penetrating tongues or pins 23 adapted for insertion through the film to support the latter in position upon the drum.

A pair of cranl: shafts 2a is pivotally supported n the lower portion of the housing 5 and 1e shafts are connected by a vertieall movable supporting plate 25, the arms of the crank shafts bein arranged in parallel relation, as will be understood, and connected by a rod 25 in order that move ment of one crank is transmitted to the other thereby effecting vertical movement of the plate 25 upwardly or downwardly, according to the direction in which the shafts are turned.

A developing solution containing tray 26 the bottom of which is curved concentrically with the cylindrical drum 19 is removably supported upon the platform or plate by legs 27 and when the platform or plate is moved to its lowermost position, the tray 26 is disposed in line with an opening 28 formed in the end wall 8 opposite the door 10, thereby facilitating removal of the tray and moving the tray to such position as to permit removal of the drum structure 19 from the housing. The opening 28 is normally closed by a slide 29 mounted in guides 3O preventing the admission of light to the interior of the housing.

A cylindrical holder 31 is supported in an axial opening 32 formed in the end wall of the housing opposite the door 10 and is provided with a terminal flange 33 limiting the inward movement of the holder and supporting the latter concentric with the drum. The top part of the holder is cut away and receives the semi-cylindrical light screen 32 formed of adequately colored translucent material preventing the admission of actinic light rays to the interior of the housing. The top of the housing is also provided with an opening 33 through which the progress of tlie development of the films in the housing may be observed and a translucent light screen 8% is also supported over the open ing to exclude actinic light.

Preliminary to use, the slide 29 is withdrawn and the plate 25 depressed by proper adjustment of the angularly directed handle 35 carried by one of the shafts 2 which is extended externally of the housing for convenience in operation and thus the tray is dropped below the drum 19 facilitating its removal and subsequent insertion through the opening 28, after having been properly filled with the developing solution. lhe drum 19 is removed prior to elevating the tray 26 and the several films S6 to be developed are arranged about the rods 22 and are fastened terminally upon the penetrat ing tongues 23, the emulsion sides of the films being disposed outwardly so as to pre vent damage thereto by contact with the rods. The drum is then replaced in the housing, the door 10 closed and fastened and the tray 26 elevated for proper adjustment of the handle 35 so as to immerse the lower portion of the drum 19 and the films supported thereby. To proceed with the development of the films, the drum 19 is rotated by the crank 21 and the progress of development may be observed by the view afforded through the screen 34, light being admitted to the interior of the housing through the screen 32. The character of the light utilized to observe the progress of development is optional, as equal results are obtainable with the daylight or artificial light such as an incandescent lamp inserted in the housing, and removable through in the holder 31. The deflectors let extend over and beyond the edges of the tray 26 and conduct the developing solution which drips from the drum and films during 01- oration of the machine back into the tray 26 thus preventing waste of the material.

The opening 83 in the top of the housing is preferably of such size that, subsequent to the removal of the screen an, the hands may be inserted through the opening to facilitate removal and application of films from and to the supporting rods 22.

What 1 claim is: v

1. ln a film developing machine, a housprovided with openings in the opposite ends thereof, a removable and rotatable film supporting drum arranged in the housing and removable through one of the openings therein, a solution containing tray arranged the other opening and partially receiving the drum, and supporting means permitting the tray to be lowered to facilitate withdrawal of the drum.

2. A film developingmachine including a housing having a non-actinic light admitting opening, a screen supporting holder mounted in the opening, a rotatable film supporting drum arranged about the holder, and a window of non-actinic color in the upper part of the housing.

r film developing machine including a housing ha ing a light admitting opening in one end thereof, a screen supporting holder removably mounted in the opening, a rotatable film supporting drum mounted concentrically of the holder, a window of non-actinic color in the top part of the housing, and a developing solution containing tray arranged in the lower part of the housing and artially receiving the drum. A. film developing machine including housing, a rotatable film supporting drum arranged in the housing, means for admitting non-actinic light to the interior of the drum, and a window of non-actinic color in the upper part of the housing.

A film developing machine including a housing, a rotatable film supporting drum mounted in the housing and having an open end, means for admitting non-actinic light to the open end of the drum, and a window of non-actinic color in said housing adjacent the drum.

6. A film developing machine including a housing, a drum rotatably mounted in the housing, means for admitting non-actinic light to the interior of the drum, a window of non-actinic color arranged in the housing above the drum. and a liquid containing tray supported in the housing below the drum and partially receiving the latter.

7. A film developing machine including a housing, a drum rotatably mounted in one end of the housing and having its opposite end open, means rotatably supporting the open end of the drum, means for admitting non-actinic light to the interior of the drum, and a Window of non-actinic color in said housing adjacent said drum.

8. A film developing machine including a housing, a drum rotatably supported in one end of the housing and having an open end, rollers rotatably supporting the open end of the drum, means for admitting non-actinic light to the interior of the drum, and a Window of non-actinic color in said housing adjacent said drum.

9. A film developing machine including a housing, a drum rotatably supported in one end of the housing and having an open end, nonactinic light admitting means extending axially through the drum, and a Window of non-actinic color in said housing adjacent the drum.

10. In a film developing machine, a film supporting drum including a plurality of rods, and tongues carried by certain of the rods adapted to penetrate the terminal portions of a film for fastening the latter in position upon the drum.

11. A film developing machine including a housing having an opening in one end thereof, a door normally closing said opening, a film supporting drum rotatably supported at one terminal in said door, the opposite end of said drum being open, supporting rollers arranged in said casing engaging and supporting the open end of the drum, means for admittin non-actinic light to the interior or the drum, and a Window of non-actinic color located in the housing adjacent the drum.

In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature hereto.

JOSEPH M. HOFF. 

